The Iberian Harpsichord

The " Iberian " Harpsichord

Recent studies indicate that the restriction of historic harpsichord building the five countries

Italy , Flanders , France , England and Germany

simplifies the historical circumstances too .

In particular, the instrument of the Iberian Peninsula , whose rich pre-baroque and baroque piano music is already more widely accessible again , deserves more attention . One of the most important Portuguese harpsichord maker of the 18th century was Joaquim Antunes Jozé from Lisbon . About his life we know ( yet ) little - he should have lived 1725-1790 - but three received harpsichords show him to be excellent instrument maker.

Lissabon, 1785 - single-manual harpsichord von Joaqm. Joz. Antunes ©DevineMusic, Finchcocks Musical Museum, Kent

With the restoration of an ( 1758 built , to the collection of the National Conservatory of Lisbon related ) of these three previously unplayable instruments NEUPERT could contribute to the rediscovery of the Portuguese Harpsichord building . The restoration work revealed numerous constructional details that Antunes was not a loner , but obviously representative of a sophisticated architecture harpsichord .

The recovery of the sound of a " Antunes " opened the music world to look at a completely independent , very sexy sound , as it would have probably met the expectations of as long acting in Portugal and Spain Domenico Scarlatti .